The Flipside To The Tipping Debate: Not Getting to Tip

A few weeks or months back, the debate on tipping culture spun up once again, getting everyone online in a tizzy. And, overall, I think we mostly agree that tipping culture is out of hand, being asked to tip on nearly everything these days.

Credit: Clover POS / Canva

But... What about not being able to tip?

Here's my unique experience tonight. In going through one of the local business drive-thru's (name withheld), I noticed ahead of time they had one of the new terminals for taking credit/debit/tap payments (which, is my main way to pay... Apple Pay).

Photo by Laurenz Heymann on Unsplash

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All is good, I ordered and we got to the payment. *tap* goes my phone, and it asks for my PIN... as I expected with my debit card. Instead, the person working pulled it back... apologized to me, and explained they were having technical issues with their terminal... and had to run it twice so that it would run as credit the next time.

via GIPHY

Alright, cool, we all have technology that hates us in life. But, this is the part that made me sit and think... staring at this poor person for what felt way too long... before just saying "Well, alright then." and driving away.

Photo by Sam Dan Truong on Unsplash

No Tipping... Because "Tap to Pay People" Don't Tip? Excuse Me?

After tapping to pay again, the terminal displayed the tip prompt (as expected). I reached my arm out to press one of the options, and once again the person working pulled it back from me.

Before I could say a word, she pressed "No Tip", and put it down. I DID speak up and say something like "Why would you do that? I was going to tip...". And, she said the words above. "Because Tap to Pay people don't tip". I did ask if that is really common, to which she shrugged and said "It is", and that was it.

I Have An Issue With This

The point I am trying to convey to you is... if you work somewhere in a quick service position... and you EXPECT no tip from people, you'll get just that. Don't go complaining about how people don't tip, either.

But, hey. I said I'd tip the next time I come through... and I will. Just... don't hit the dang "No Tip" button for me. I'm a big boy, I can do it if I don't want to tip you.